Combat Support Skills and their use in Infantry Units to be improved in Ādaži Training Area

From March 22-31, Latvian and the U.S.-led international combat support specialist and unit training event “Operation Summer Shield XII” takes place in Ādaži Training Area.

The annual training event is a combined land, air and naval exercise, where participate more than 1100 troops from Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Luxembourg, Canada and the U.S.

The training event will take place in several parts. From March 23-28, the theoretical and practical training will be held, but from March 29-31 – field tactical exercises during the daylight and after the dark, where also artillery will be used.

The goal for this training event is to integrate and coordinate fire support in infantry unit operations through a number of combat support elements – artillery, aviation, defence against weapons of mass destruction, support of engineers in united operation with overcoming obstacles, involving joint fire support front observers and close air support controllers.

The aim of this training event is to train the infantry battalions of the Land Force Infantry Brigades to use the combat support capabilities in various tasks.

Since 2004, the training event „Operation Summer Shield” takes place in Latvia.

Since 2014, this training event is included in the NATO exercises and training list, so it is also open to participation by any Member State. Last year the training event was attended by more than 600 troops from Latvia, Lithuania and the U.S. While, number of staff officers of the Lithuanian Armed Forces were integrated into the Latvian Battalion.

Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia
Military Public Affairs Department
Media Relations Section
Phone: 67335135
E-mail: prese@mod.gov.lv